Job overview

Legal & Risk Services is a division of the NHS Wales shared Services Partnership which provides a comprehensive legal advisory service to the NHS.

Our Core Values, which are important in how we work with our clients and how we support our colleagues, are:

• Listening and Learning
• Working together
• Taking responsibility
• Innovating

We have an exciting opportunity for a Paralegal to join our Personal injury and Prosecutions Team with a particular focus on personal injury and health and Safety work. You will be assisting our growing team of solicitors and fellow paralegals who advise and represent the whole of the NHS in Wales.

The types of cases we typically advise on include:

• Employers and public liability cases
• Violence and aggression
• Industrial disease
• Work related stress
• Health and Safety prosecutions

The Team are experts in their field who are regularly instructed in novel and high profile cases. We work closely with our clients’ Health and Safety, Nursing and patient care teams and other directorates at all levels.

The ideal candidate for this position must have good communication skills, a confident approach to work and can demonstrate our core values. There will be a need for empathy and sensitivity due to the very personal nature of the cases we deal with.

Main duties of the job

You will assist in the day-to-day management of cases under close supervision of a Senior Lawyer. You will have opportunities to contribute to the team and wider Legal & Risk family. You will be responsible for opening new cases, liaising with clients and witnesses, attending hearings at court and helping witnesses navigate the court process. This will include reviewing medical records/reports, drafting letters to obtain evidence and assisting in the preparation of client advice, witness statements, court bundles, and instructions to counsel.

The post holder will need to establish and maintain good working relationships with a variety of health care professionals, colleagues within Legal & Risk Services, Court officers, witnesses and experts.

Some experience in Personal injury is desirable but what is important is a genuine interest in this area of work.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our organisation

At NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership we have high standards and expect everyone to embrace our values of Listening & Learning, Working Together, Taking Responsibility & Innovating, whilst ensuring trust, honesty and compassion are implicit in everything that we do.

We are adaptable, agile and flexible and pride ourselves on being a learning organisation - one where it is safe to make mistakes, where blame is replaced by opportunity, learning and improvement.  Innovation is built into everything that we do.

We recognise our people regularly and have an Appreciation Station, to encourage staff to applaud exemplary behaviour in one another, alongside an Annual Staff Recognition Award ceremony aligned to our values.

We respect and value our people and strive for a culture of compassion and inclusivity.  We are a bilingual organisation, and we have a team of Change Champions who advocate ‘This is Our NWSSP’ our principal change programme. Similarly, PROUD is our new staff network welcoming LGBT+ colleagues and allies to come together in a safe space for discussions, event planning and the opportunity to build supportive networks.

We have a comprehensive benefits package where there is something for everyone, supporting health, engagement and wellbeing and includes an Employee Assistance Programme. We have over 30 Mental Health First Aiders and work in partnership with local and national organisations to ensure the well-being and resilience of our people.